Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Social-Revolutionary Party of Cuba (Partido Social-Revolucionario Democrático de Cuba) is a democratic socialist
political party
in Cuba
. Although changes to the Cuban constitution in 1992 decriminalized the right to form political parties other than the Communist Party of Cuba
, these parties are not permitted to campaign or engage in any public political activities on the island. The current international secretary of the PSDRC is exiled poet Jorge Valls
who is based in the United States
. Public engagements by party members are typically restricted to international gatherings of democratic socialist groups.
The main political aims of the PSRDC are to persuade the Cuban government to declare a political amnesty and to reinstall a sovereign National Constituent Assembly which the party believes was abandoned following Fulgencio Batista
's coup d'état in 1952. They also call for more freedom in Cuba's state controlled press and an end to what they consider Cuba's human rights
violations. The PSRDC is extremely critical of Fidel Castro
and the Communist Party apparatus describing the present government as "unrepresentative of the ideals of the Cuban Revolution
". The party also condemns the role of the United States in the region, requesting that both Cubans and Americans overcome the compulsion to compare the merits and shortfalls of each system, describing such dialogue as unconstructive.
Democratic socialism
Democratic socialism is a description used by various socialist movements and organizations to emphasize the democratic character of their political orientation...
political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
. Although changes to the Cuban constitution in 1992 decriminalized the right to form political parties other than the Communist Party of Cuba
Communist Party of Cuba
The Communist Party of Cuba is the governing political party in Cuba. It is a communist party of the Marxist-Leninist model. The Cuban constitution ascribes the role of the Party to be the "leading force of society and of the state"...
, these parties are not permitted to campaign or engage in any public political activities on the island. The current international secretary of the PSDRC is exiled poet Jorge Valls
Jorge Valls
Jorge Valls is a well-known Cuban activist and poet. He was born in Cuba and was arrested as a political activist by Fidel Castro in 1964. He spent more than 20 years behind bars in many Cuban prisons and was released in 1984...
who is based in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Public engagements by party members are typically restricted to international gatherings of democratic socialist groups.
The main political aims of the PSRDC are to persuade the Cuban government to declare a political amnesty and to reinstall a sovereign National Constituent Assembly which the party believes was abandoned following Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista
Fulgencio Batista y Zaldívar was the United States-aligned Cuban President, dictator and military leader who served as the leader of Cuba from 1933 to 1944 and from 1952 to 1959, before being overthrown as a result of the Cuban Revolution....
's coup d'état in 1952. They also call for more freedom in Cuba's state controlled press and an end to what they consider Cuba's human rights
Human rights in Cuba
Human Rights Watch is among international human rights organizations accusing the Cuban government of systematic human rights abuses, including torture, arbitrary imprisonment, unfair trials, and extrajudicial execution....
violations. The PSRDC is extremely critical of Fidel Castro
Fidel Castro
Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz is a Cuban revolutionary and politician, having held the position of Prime Minister of Cuba from 1959 to 1976, and then President from 1976 to 2008. He also served as the First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba from the party's foundation in 1961 until 2011...
and the Communist Party apparatus describing the present government as "unrepresentative of the ideals of the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
". The party also condemns the role of the United States in the region, requesting that both Cubans and Americans overcome the compulsion to compare the merits and shortfalls of each system, describing such dialogue as unconstructive.